Moving toy direction-variable by a modulating ray



#556Q3 1d 233 EX FIP JlOfJ KR 3,406,431

Oct. 22, 1968 ICHIRO TACHI 3,406,481

MOVING TOY DIRECTION-VARIABLE BY A MODULATING RAY Filed Jan. 20, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 6 I EVENTOR.

1 W In BY Q 12 iii 9 Q Oct. 22, 1968 ICHIRO TACHI 3,406,481

MOVING TOY DIREF ION-VARIABLE BY A MODULATING RAY Filed Jan. 20, 19 66 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent MOVING TOY DIRECTION-VARIABLE BY A MODULATING RAYIchiro Tachi, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Asakusa Toy Co. Ltd., Tokyo,Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Jan. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 521,834Claims priority, application Japan, Nov. 2, 1965, 40/ 66,879 Claims.(Cl. 46244) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A moving toy, directionallyvariable to automatically seek and advance toward the instantaneousposition of a directed beam of modulating rays, the latter readilydistinguished from the ambient, which comprises a body, and a supportframe rotatably mounted in the body about a vertical axis. A pair ofphotoconductive cells are laterally spaced on and secured to the towerand are adapted to operate as light receivers, and circuit means areconnected between the pair of photo-conductive cells and the first andsecond motor means for automatically turning on and off the first andsecond motor means for causing the toy to turn and advance towards thedirected beam of modulating rays.

The present invention relates to a moving toy which isdirection-variable by a modulating ray, its photoelectricdirection-variable mechanism and a circuit therefor.

Generally in a toy which is direction-variable, the function of themechanism is used as a direction-indicator to bring about such effectsas sound, light and electromagnetic waves.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a moving toy whichis direction-variable by a modulating ray, wherein a direction-variablemechanism comprises is achieved, which may be a regular cut ray by,example, photoconducting cells as a receiver, whereby a changing lightcauses a variation of the electric current with a transistor andcondenser and other elements disposed in a circuit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moving toywhich is direction-variable by a modulating ray, wherein adirection-variable mechanism comprises a modulating ray which impingesupon a rotating lightreceiver and the electric current of thephoto-electric effect causes the operation of a direction-motor untilthe toy changes completely its driving direction in response to theincident ray.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a moving toy directionavariable by amodulating ray;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view in section showing the internal mechanism, theupper part being removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section of the toydisclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the lines 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a circuit incorporated in the toy.

Referring now to the drawings, the toy comprises a front wheel 1,adapted to advance and change the direction of a toy or car-body 2including a support frame. A pair of rear wheels 3 is rotatably mountedon a cross axle 4 of the toy or car-body 2. A support frame 5 for thefront wheel (FIGS. 3 and 4) supports rotatably a "ice front wheel shaft6 which is adapted for driving the toy or car-body 2 and in turn isdriven by a center shaft 7 which operates as a fulcrum to change thedirection of the front wheel 1 and to set the direction of the toy orcar-body 2. A motor 8 drives, over a reduction gear, the support frame5. The support frame 5 is rotatably connected with a tower having a pairof photoconductive cells CDS and CDS, made of cadmium sulfide or thelike, and also another motor 9 rotates only the front wheel shaft 6, themotors 8 and 9 being fed by batteries 10 and 10', disposed in thecircuit shown in FIG. 5.

The motor 9 has a pinion 11 on its shaft, the rotation of the pinion 11being decelerated by means of small and large gears 12, 13, 14 and 15and the rotation is transmitted to a large gear 16 fixed on the centershaft 7 and by another gear 17 of the center shaft to small gears 18 and18', disposed in the support frame 5 to rotate a crown gear 19, whichtogether with said front wheel 1 turns.

The motor 8 has a pinion 20 on its shaft, whose rotation is alsodecelerated by means of several small and large gears 21, 22, 23 and 24,and the rotation is transmitted to a large gear 26 fixed at a shortshaft 25 (FIG. 3) and by a pinion 27 to a large gear 28 disposed in thesupport frame 5 in order to rotate slowly the support frame 5.

A large gear 29 having the same pitch-circle as that of the large gear28 and mounted at a vertical shaft 30, is rotated at the same velocityand the same revolution as the support frame 5, the vertical shaft 30being connected with a tower 31 disposed at the upper part of the toyand including cadmium sulfide photoconductive cells CDS and CDS, whichrotate at the same revolution as the support frame 5.

The pair of photoconductive cells CDS and CDS are operatively connectedin the circuit shown in FIG. 5 by brushes 32 and 33, which alwaysmaintain engagement.

As disclosed in FIG. 5, there is a fine relay in which the circuitcomprises transistors Q1 and Q2 in series condensers C1 and C2, andfurther with relays or magnetic coils TR-R and TR-L. Connecting switchesare likewise disposed in series in the circuit, which are preferablymagnetic switches, where relays or magnetic coils R and L, respectively,are operated by the relays TR-R and TR-L and have variable contactpoints or transfer switches R1, R2, R3 and L1, L2, L3, L4.

The disclosed circuit operates in the following manner: By firstswitching the magnetic switches SW1, SW2, SW3 and SW4 connected inseries, a circuit 8, SW3, 10', L3 causes the motor 8 to start rotatingturning the support frame 5 and the tower 31 at the same speed (so as toalways be aligned) by means of the gears 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28and 29.

Modulating rays from a source (not shown) for example, then illuminateone of the photoconductive cells CDS and CDS, which are turning aboutwith the tower 31, and thereby transform modulating rays into electriccurrent, which is properly amplified by the transistor Q1 and thecondenser C1, and rendering operative the relay or magnetic coil TR-L(FIG. 5).

As further indicated in the circuit, the magnetic force of the relayTR-L operates the relays L, and magnetic force modulation causes in thecircuit SW4, L, battery the electric current to decrease, to change amagnetic switch as the connecting transfer switches L1, L2, L3, L4 ofthe original contact state to another contact state.

Then, a new circuit SW1, 9, L4, 10, 10 causes the motor 9 to operate,rotating the front wheel shaft 6 to cause the toy to advance, but themotor 8 is still operated by another new circuit 8, SW3, 10, L1, R1 andthe tower 31 and the support frame 5 still rotate to change the toysdirection toward direction of the source of the 3 modulating rays, untilthe rays are directed to both of the photo-cells CD5 and CD8.

When this direction is reached, in accordance with the same principle asthe L-system, the R-system (the relays or magnetic coil TR-R, R,variable contact points or transfer switches R1, R2, R3) operates toopen the switch R1 and no circuit containing the motor 8 is operative,and therefore, only the motor 9 is operative to increase the toysstraight movement directly toward the source of the modulating rays.

In this manner the toy changes its moving direction toward the incidentray and advances straight into the light.

Again changing the modulating ray source so that the rays emanate fromanother direction toward the tower of the toy, the toy again changes itsdirection toward the new my source, first stopping its advance andturning and then moving straight into the light by the same operation asabove mentioned.

Covers 34 are provided for the photo-cells CD5 and CD8 (FIG. 3), andheadlights 35 are shown in FIG. 2.

As according to the present invention, a moving toy direction-variableby a modulating ray," as mentioned above, is able to change its movingdirection only by a modulating ray and there is no danger of usualambient light variation, such as in or out-doors, which may cause thechange of its moving direction, most children can play with these toyspleasantly and interestingly.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not ina'limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined bythe objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. A moving toy, directionally variable to automatically seek andadvance toward the instantaneous position of a directed beam ofmodulating rays, the latter readily distinguished from the ambient,comprising:

a body, a supportframe rotatably mounted in said body about a verticalaxis, an axle horizontally mounted in said support frame, a front wheelaxially mounted on said axle, a first motor means operatively connectedwith said support frame for controlling the direction of said y,

a second motor means operatively connected with said front wheel forturning the latter,

a tower rotatably mounted on said body about a vertical axis and alignedwith and operatively connected to said support frame for joint parallelrotation therewith,

a pair of mwfi e cgllslaterally spaced on and secured to sat ower andadapted to operate as light receivers, and

circuit means connected between said pair of photoconductive cells andsaid first and second motor means for automatically turning on and offsaid first and second motor means for causing said toy to turn andadvance towards said instantaneous position of said direct beam ofmodulating rays.

2. The movi g toy, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said circuit means comprises,

first circuit means for placing said first motor means in an operativecondition to rotate said support frame and said tower jointly when saidmodulating rays do not impinge equally on both said photo-conductivecells, and

second circuit means for operating said second motor means when saidrays impinge on at least one of said pairs of photo-conductive cells.

3. The moving toy, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said first motor means rotates said support frame in one direction.

4.,The moving toy, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said pair of photo-conductive cells are angularly mounted relative eachother and together pointing in a direction parallel to said front wheel.

5. The moving toy, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said first and second circuit means include transistors, relays,connecting magnetic switches, connecting transfer switches andbatteries.

) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,803 4/1964 Wiggins 46-244X 3,171,963 3/1965 'Bourguignon 46244 X LOUIS G. MANCENE, PrimaryExaminer.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

